Recording scale



K. C. ALLEN RECORDING SCALE Aug. 9, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21,1955 FIG2 a Rm & ml 4, M m. m C H m, 0 0 m v Y B mm; E Pa mm 1" 0 E F HWwfi 0 ES v B H V H M O L m n W L 5 4 ATTORNEYS Aug. 9, 1960 K. c. ALLEN2,948,465

RECORDING SCALE Filed Nov. 21, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 ab w) (((M/ I 66118 I 120 *3\ 1O1 5a o O w FIG -6 58 k 100 65 67 72 E 74 66 n 0L 101 7576 F'? 107 83 15 82 84 85 86 108 INVENTOR. 3 106 KENNETH C. ALLENATTORNEYS 1950 K. c. ALLEN 8,

I RECORDING SCALE Filed Nov. 21, 1955 v 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 YKENNETHC.ALLEIN ATTORNEYS Aug. 9, 1960 K. c. ALLEN 2,948,465

RECORDING SCALE Filed Nov. 21, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 180k 280 FIG-12287k 28% 92874? 281k 282 2 2 2819 Q) 285e I 90 z 290k O 2903 FIG --13 K245 2457 2'10. 7 85 30 231 ZKZ 233 234 236 235 23231 22 224 2a 226 205B4 18% 236 232 230 195 1819 781a 181d 181C 1815 1800' 234 1m 180 18oF180a 180d 18m 548 Q 145 Ml ms-14 140 $4 5o e 52 51\ g 147 i 61/ as! 28146 256 24a 52 2 7 195 255k 305 236 306 INVENTOR.

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INVENTLJR. KENNETH c. ALLEN ATTORNEYS Aug. 9, 1960 K. c. ALLEN 2,948,465

RECORDING SCALE Filed Nov. 21, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG-2O 436 426 462FIG-21 165 172 482 0 136 475 485 481 48 455' TR INVEN 0 -2 447 KENNETHc. ALLEN oFF-'- BY 4 q 448449 pu ATTORNEYS 1 K. c. ALLEN 2,948,465

9 Sheets-Sheet 7 RECORDING SCALE Aug. 9, 1960 Filed Nov. 21, 1955 QT Em.tm mum ,v J A N 7s gm m m E a m MM I ma, w do 3M Rm m Wm Pd Qmm a [aPljf mww m J K i w W v Em mam v Mum v mum. a. o 0. 9o 1 o. .i u. H 3 3nNLmHM H O O O O O H 4 0 o o 0 0 0 Nam 08 Jun "nu" 3. N m, vvwJ 0 0 0 rG m 2% n 1 3H \Hiw W 52.: mvm-+ vmw/ mwm r J 0% m Em mw 00m Rm 0.00 8mAW Aug. 9, 1960 K. C. ALLEN RECORDING SCALE Filed Nov. 21, 1955 9Sheets-Sheet 8 R u 7 3m m 1m Gm 1% mm V A m E: W. Q m. 5 E H 1.. v T A2a N E J K v wk w .O.. g mh 7 3% 8m 8% WIJ: l n f W M W W W W m b m Rpm1 IUI Nms omx Y0K: Q Q wmm\ M311 3 mm 0 m m H M W WM 3 8m X N wk: W%\ AMN 2 1 wmm km 4 Aug. 9, 1960 K. C. ALLEN RECORDING SCALE Filed Nov. 21,1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 H G 27 COMMODITY PLATTER WEIGHING MECHANISM WEIGHTREAD-OUT WEIGHT IN f PARTIAL PRODUCTS INCORPORATING E WEIGHT auNIT PRIcECOMFINQTER FACTORS VALUE OUTPUT SELECTED WEIGHT I VALUE FACTORS WEIGHTINPUT 1 f-- UNIT PRIcE PRINTER sELEcToR :3 coNINIooITY IDENTIFIER IPRINTED REcoRo\\ INVENTOR.

KENNETH c. ALLEN BY WM w/w ATTORNEYS United States Patent RECORDINGSCALE Kenneth C. Allen, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The HobartManufacturing Company, Troy, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 21,1955, Ser. No. 548,148

26 Claims. (Cl. 235-58) This invention relates to registers, and moreparticularly to electrically controlled register apparatus.

The invention is of special interest and application in conjunction witha computing device to register the final computations of the computingdevice, and it is particularly applicable to a register which is adaptedto issue a ticket, label or continuous tape record bearing the desiredinformation thereon. For example, the invention is disclosed hereinafterin conjunction with a measuring instrument in the form of a weighingscale and an associated computing device to provide a complete weighingand computing apparatus wherein the final product is a printed ticket orlabel bearing thereon a record of the weight, unit price and computedvalue of the weighed article or material.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a register mechanismadapted to be associated with an electrical computer for producing arecord, either visual or printed or both, of data developed in theoutput of the computer, the data being set rapidly and accurately intothe mechanism.

Another object is to provide such a mechanism in which the operatingcycle begins as soon as the data is available from the computer and inwhich such data is set into the mechanism during the progress of thecycle so that the entire operation is very fast.

An additional object is to provide such a register mechanism in whichquick acting solenoids are energized from the output of the computer asthe cycling of the mechanism proceeds, acting directly on indexingelements in the mechanism to set such elements at the proper positionsto correspond with the data supplied from the computer, eliminating thenormal keyboard and the conventional presetting of the keys thereofprior to initiation of the operating cycle.

It is another object of the invention to provide a register of the aboveoutlined type which is capable of successfully handling a plurality ofdifferent variable data such as weight and computed value in the case ofa Weighing scale, and especially which does not require initial settingup in response to receipt of the data to be registered but which insteadwill be effective in the course of its operating cycle both to set itsown controls and also to adjust its register members in accordance withsuch setting of its controls.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus for use inprepackaging operations in a foodstore or the like in which a series ofwrapped articles are placed successively on a weighing platform of ascale which supplies weight data to a computer having controls 2 whichare manually set for the unit price and in which the computer actuates aprinter to print tickets showing the commodity, its weight, price andcomputed value, the tickets being produced rapidly and made availablefor application to each article as soon as it is removed from theplatform.

It is also an object of the invention to provide combined apparatus forweighing, computing and printing as outlined above wherein the sequenceof operations is such that a subsequent weighing and computing operationcan be initiated even before the preceding printing operation iscompleted without interfering with proper functioning of any of theparts, wherein an error introduced during the operating cycleautomatically prevents completion of the cycle to avoid printing of anincorrect ticket or label, and wherein an appropriate signal is given tothe operator of both the occurrence and the nature of any such error inorder that he may quickly make the proper correction.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description, the accompanying drawings and theappended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a complete installation embodyingregister apparatus in accordance with the invention and including aweighing scale, a computer actuated by the scale, and a printing unitfor issuing a printed ticket showing the commodity, its weight, unitprice, and the computed value of each article weighed on the scale;

Fig. 2 illustrates a printed ticket of the type issued by the apparatusof Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragment of Fig. 1 showing certain controlbuttons;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a set of signal lights on theapparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of a portion of the registerapparatus of Fig. 1 looking from left to right in Fig. 6 with the casingbroken away;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 66 of Fig.5;

Fig. 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic and developed view illustrating aportion of the drive to the type wheels;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view looking in the same direction asFig. 5 and showing a part of the drive mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view illustrating another portion of the driveof Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragment of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing an operated position of theillustrated parts;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view looking generally from right to left inFig. 8;

Fig. 13 is a developed view showing a portion of the operating mechanismand looking generally upwardly in Fig. 8;

Fig. 14 is a developed continuation of the right hand end of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view in vertical section illustrating theticket printing mechanism of Fig. l and looking generally from right toleft in Fig. 1 as indicated by the line 1515 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 16 is a detail view illustrating the paper supply mechanism for theticket printing apparatus of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a detail view of a typical commodity key and its associatedlock, the view being taken as indicated by the line 17-17 of Fig. 20;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in sectionillustrating the mechanism for printing the designation of the commodityon each ticket and looking in the same direction as in Fig.

Fig. 19 shows the actuating mechanism for the cornmodity key;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary view illustrating the mechanism for locking thecommodity key in position;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary view showing in detail certain of the parts forinitiating the printing cycle and looking in the same direction as inFig. 5 wherein the same parts are found;

Fig. 22 illustrates one of the interlock mechanisms for the printingapparatus for preventing operation of the printing apparatus if thecommodity key is not in proper position;

Fig. 23 illustrates a further interlock mechanism associated with thecommodity key and unit price mechvanisrn;

Figs. 24 and 25 are further fragmentary views illustrating the mechanismof Fig. 22 and other parts associated therewith;

Figs. 26a and 2611 together constitute the wiring diagram for theindicating and printing apparatus of Figs. 1-25;

Fig. 27 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of the apparatusof Figs. 1-25; and

Fig. 28 (sheet 5) is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating theweight read-out mechanism in the system of Figs. 1 and 27.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the complete ticket printing scale construction of Fig. 1incorporates a power operated scale 30 having a platter 31 whichreceives the article or load to be weighed, an example of a satisfactorypower operated scale being disclosed in my copending application SerialNo. 376,136 filed August 24, 1953. The scale 30 is shown as providedwith a visual indication 32 of the weight reading, but this is primarilyfor use in setting the tare adjustment by means of the knob 33. For usein conjunction with the present invention, the weighing operation of thescale 30 produces an analogue response corresponding to the preciseweight of the weighed article and transmits this response to a computingapparatus 35 which reads out the precise position of the analogueresponse of the scale in terms of pounds and hundredths of a pound, andwhich also computes the value of the load in accordance with a presetprice per pound. An example of a suitable such computing apparatus isdisclosed in detail in my copending application Serial No. 436,218 filedJune 11, 1954, and the computer 35 may provide a visual indication ofthe weight and computed value as indicated at 36 in Fig. 1. The scale isalso provided with a signal light 37 which operates as described in saidapplication Serial No. 436,218 to indicate when the computing operationis advanced sufficiently to permit the load to be removed from theplatter and the next load placed thereon.

In accordance with the present invention, the weight and value read outand computed by the computer 35 are in turn transmitted in digital formto a register apparatus identified generally at 40 in Fig. 1. Thisapparatus 40 includes manual control knobs 41, 42 and 43 for presettingthe price per pound of the commodity being weighed, and it also is shownat 44 as provided with a visual indication of weight and computed value.The principal function of the apparatus 40 is to print and issue ticketsor labels, such as 45 in Fig. 2, with each ticket bearing thereoninformation as to the identity and grade of the commodity, together withits weight, price per pound and computed value. Successive such tickets45 are issued from the apparatus 40 at 46 in Fig. 1, and reference ismade to my copending Patent No. 2,824,726 disclosing ticket feedingmechanism which has been found especially satisfactory for incorporationin the unit 40.

Referring to Fig. 7, the actual printing of the weight, price per poundand computed value on each ticket 45 is effected by a plurality of typewheels all carried by a shaft 50 mounted between the side plates 51 and52 of the printing frame located within the right hand side of the unit40. This part of the apparatus, together with the feeding mechanism forthe strip 55 of tickets 45 as described hereinafter, is enclosed by acover 56 having a latch 57 to provide for ready access to the stripfeeding mechanism inside the casing 58. The several type wheels alloperate in conjunction with an impression hammer 60 as shown in Fig. 15.

There are three type wheels for printing the price-pen pounddesignations, a wheel 61 for pennies, a wheel 62 for dimes and a wheel63 for dollars. Figs. 5-7 best illustrate the mechanism for settingthese type wheels. A shaft 65 is mounted between bracket portions 66 and67 of a frame 68, and the shaft 65 projects at one end through thehousing 58 to receive the knob 41, which includes a dial 70 enclosed bya cover 71 having a small viewing slot 72 therein proportioned to exposea single digit on dial 70. As shown in Fig. 1, the other knobs 42 and 43are provided with similar dials and slotted covers for convenientindexing and reading.

The shaft 65 also carries a pinion 74 meshing with a gear 75 on shaft 76driving a rotary selector switch indicated diagrammatically at 77 whichtransmits to the computer 35 the setting of the knob 41 as described indetail in my copending application Serial No. 436,218. The gear 75 alsodrives an idler gear 80 on a stud 81, and the gear 80 in turn drives agear 82 on one end of a tube 83 journaled in side frame plates 84 and85. The other end of tube 83 carries a pinion 86 meshing with a gear 87on a tube 88 rotatable on a stud 90 mounted between the plate 85 and asecond plate 91. The tube 88 also carries a gear 92 meshing with a gear93 on one end of a tube 94 carried by a stud 95, and the other end oftube 94 carries a gear 96 which meshes with gear teeth on the hub of thetype wheel 61.

The drive for adjusting type wheel 62 is transmitted from knob 42 to ashaft 99 similar to shaft 65 and carrying a pinion 100 meshing with agear 101 on a shaft 102 which also drives a rotary selector switchcorresponding to the switch 77. The gear 101 meshes with an idler 105 onstud 81 which in turn drives a gear 106 on one end of a tube 107telescoped within the tube 83. The other end of tube 107 carries apinion 108 meshing with a gear 109 free on stud 90 which in turn mesheswith a gear 110 on a tube 111 telescoped within the tube 94. The otherend of tube 111 carries a pinion 112 which meshes with gear teeth on thehub of the type wheel 62.

The knobs 41 and 42 and their associated type wheels 61 and 62 aremounted for rotation through a complete series of ten positions, but theknob 43 for dollars will normally not need more than three positions,namely 0, 1 and 2. The drive for adjusting the type wheel 63 istransmitted from knob 43 by a shaft 115 mounted similarly to the shaft65 and carrying at its inner end a crank 116. The pin 117 on the crank116 engages in a slot in one end of a bell crank 118 on a shaft 120which corresponds to the shafts 76 and 102 and which similarly drives aselector switch. The bell crank 118 is also connected by a link 121 witha crank 122 which is secured to one end of a shaft 123 extending throughthe tube 107. The other end of shaft 123 carries a pinion 125 whichmeshes with a gear 126 on a short tube 127 on the stud 90. The tube 127in turn carries a similar gear 128 meshing with a gear 129 on one end pfa tube 130 free on the stud 95 within tube 111, and

'5 at the other end of tube 130 is a pinion 131 meshing with gear teethon the hub of type wheel 63.

It will thus be seen that provision is made for individual presetting ofeach of the type wheels 61, 62 and 63', as Well as for transmitting thepreset condition of these type wheels to the computer 35, by means ofthe selector switches such as 77, to control the actions of the computerin computing the value of each load on the scale platter, these switchescorresponding to the switches P, Q and R in my application Serial No. 436,218. Provision is also made for indexing each of these type wheelsaccurately in its desired setting. Referring to Fig. 25, each of theintermediate gears 93, 110 and 129 is provided with a cooperatingretaining pawl 135 free on stud 136 secured in the frame plate 85 andurged into yielding engagement with the teeth of its associated gear bya spring 137.

There are two other sets of type wheels also mounted on the shaft 50.The middle set 140-143 prints the computed value on each ticket 45 asindicated in Fig. 2, and the other set of type wheels 145-148 prints theweight in pounds and hundredths of a pound, each type wheel in each setthus corresponding to a specific column in the group of four columnscapable of reproducing any value from 00.00 to 99.99. For ordinary usewith a scale of the type employed for food merchandising, there isusually a low limit on the maximum scale load, for example twenty-fivepounds, but it will be apparent that this does not actually limit therange of the device.

Each of the type wheels 140-143 and 145-148 must be individually set bythe computer 35 for each weighing operation. Accordingly, novel controlsare provided by the invention for this purpose, acting in conjunctionwith a mechanical drive which is in many respects similar to that shownin Robertson Patents 1,816,263 issued July 28, 1931; 1,929,652 issuedOctober 10, 1933, and 2,056,- 485 and 2,056,486 issued October 6, 1936.Additional disclosure of interest to the illustrated apparatus, but notpertinent to the present invention, will be found in said Robertsonpatents and also in Goodbar et a1. 2,730,038 issued January 10, 1956.

There are essentially duplicate drive means for each of the type wheels140-143 and 145-148, and the drive for a single such type wheel will bedescribed in detail, namely the type wheel 140 which prints the pennycolumn of the computed value of the weighed material. The driveoriginates from a motor 150 connected through a clutch 151 and geartrain indicated diagrammatically at 152 with the main cam shaft 155. Themotor 150 and clutch 151 are both actuated at the start of a printingcycle by a solenoid 160 which is energized by the computer 35 uponcompletion of its computing operation as described hereinafter inconnection with the wiring diagram. This solenoid 160 operates throughan arm 161 to rock the shaft 162 which in turn carries an actuating arm163 for rocking a lever 165 on a pivot 166 against a spring 167 out ofengagement with a bent over ear 168 on the release pitman 170. As soonas the pitman 170 is released, it is urged by a spring (not shown), tothe left as viewed in Fig. 8 and caused to close the motor switchcontacts 171, to engage the clutch 151, and to release the switch locklever indicated diagrammatically at 172, all as described in detail inthe above Robertson patents.

A complete operation of the machine requires one revolution of the camshaft 155 in clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 8 and 9, and aftercompletion of this revolution, the control lever 165 is restored to itsposition shown in Fig. 8 and also in Fig. 21. This action opens themotor switch 171, disengages the clutch 151, and restores the switchlock lever to its holding position, all as described in Robertson PatentNo. 2,056,486.

The drive connection from the cam shaft 155 to the individual typewheels includes a rock shaft 175 extending completely across the mainframe. This rock shaft carries a pair of differential members identifiedgenerally 6 as 180 and 181 for each of the type-wheels -143 and -148,these members for the type wheel 140 being a primary segment 180a and asecondary segment 181a, and the identical members for the remaining typeWheels being identified as 180b180h and 181b-181h, respectively.Adjacent the ends of shaft 175 there are fixed a pair of bales 185, andthese bales carry a bar 186 which extends through the segments 180 inabutting relation with the intermediate spoke portion 187 of eachsegment.

The shaft 175 is rocked back and forth during each revolution of the camshaft through the action of a cam 190 (Fig. 9) which drives a bell crank191 pivoted on a stud 192. The bell crank 191 is formed at one end as agear segment 193 and this segment meshes with a segment 194 pinned onthe rock shaft 175. Each primary segment 180 is normally biased incounterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8 by an elongated spring195, but movement of the segment is limited by abutment of itsintermediate spoke 187 with the bar 186. Thus when the rock shaft isrocked in counterclockwise direction, the primary segments can follow inthe same direction, but when the rock shaft is moved in clockwisedirection, the bar 186 will restore the primary segments to their homeposition shown in Fig. 8.

The secondary segments 181 are of essentially the same construction asshown in the Robertson patents, and each includes one set of teeth whicheffectively match the teeth 200 on the associated segment 180, and whichthere fore are not visible in Fig. 8, and a second set of teeth 20 1 ora portion of the segment of smaller radius than segment 180. The teeth201 on segment 181k for type wheel 148 mesh with a gear 202 carried by atube 203 mounted on a shaft 205 extending completely across the frame ofthe machine. At the other end of the tube 203 is a pinion 206 whichmeshes with an idler 207 on a shaft 208, and the idler 207 in turnmeshes directly with gear teeth on the hub of the type wheel 148.

Provision is also made for similarly driving the indicator wheels whichprovide the visual indication at 44 of the reading of the printer.Referring to Figs. 8 and 13, the gear 202 also meshes with an idler 210on a shaft 211, and this idler 210 in turn meshes with gear teeth 212 onthe hub of an indicator wheel 215.

The drive arrangement to the other type wheels is essentially the samefrom the motor 150 to the associated secondary segment 181. Each segment181, however, meshes with a separate gear on a separate tube telescopedover the tube 203 and shaft 205, these gears being identified as 220-226and the tubes as 230-236 respectively. At the opposite ends of the tubes230-236 is a corresponding plurality of gears identical in function withgear 206 and identified generally as 240, and each gear 240 meshes withone of a plurality of idlers 242 on the shaft 208 which in turn meshWith gear teeth on the hub of the associated type wheel as shown in Fig.14. Each of gears 220-226 also meshes with an idler 245 corresponding tothe idler 210 and similarly driving an indicator at 44 corresponding tothe indicator 215.

The simplest operation of this apparatus as described up to this pointwill take place if the type wheel 140 is to print the digit 9. Fig. 8shows the segment 180a in the home position which it occupies at thebeginning and end of each cycle. The two segments 180a and 181a are heldtogether by an aligning pawl 250a pivoted at 251 and controlled by a cam252 on cam shaft 155 in cooperation with a follower roller on the pawland a spring 253. There is one of these pawls for each pair of segments,adapted to engage simultaneously the teeth 200 and similar teeth onsegment 181, and each pair of segments is also adapted to mesh with aclutching pinion 255a free on a rod 256 carried by a plurality of arms257 secured on a rock shaft 258. The shaft 258 is rocked back and forthto engage and disengage the pinions 255 with the segments in a mannerexplained in Robertson Patent 2,056,486.

When the drive is started as described to rotate the cam shaft 155, andduring approximately the first 30 of rotation of the cam shaft, thealigning pawls 250 and the clutch pinions 255 will both be retracted outof engagement with the segments. Next, the earn 190 will operate asdescribed through the bell crank 191 to rotate the rock shaft 175 incounterclockwise direction, thereby carrying the bales 185 through anangle equal to approximately ten of the teeth 200 on the primary segment180, this movement being shown as approximately 90 and limited bycontact of the bales with opposite sides of a stop pin 260 (Fig. 9).During this movement, the bar 186 will engage the pad 261 on thesecondary segment 181a and rotate the latter to a position correspondingto the position of the associated type wheel.

During the movement of the bales 185 as described, the spring 195 willcarry the primary segment 180a through the same 90 of are as the bales.Then upon completion of this part of the cycle, the clutch pinion 255awill be returned into engagement with the segments to lock themtogether, and just prior to this action, the pawl 25011 is momentarilyshifted into engagement with the segments in order to assure that theirteeth will be properly aligned for engagement with the pinion 255a.

Thereafter, the shaft 175 and the bales 185 rotate in clockwisedirection, and during this action, the bar 186 will engage the segmentspoke 187 and move the segment 180a in clockwise direction back to thehome position shown in Fig. 8. Since the segment 181a is clutched tosegment 180a by the pinion 255a, it will be moved to the same angularextent as segment 180a, and this action will be transmitted through thesegment teeth 201 and the associated gearing to the type wheel 140 andthe associated indicator at 44 as previously described.

Special provision is made in accordance with the invention for selectiveindexing of the primary segments 180 to establish correspondinglyadjusted positions of the type wheels, with this control being effectedin response to the computing action of the computer 35. Referringparticularly to Figs. 8-12, there is a stop finger 280 associated witheach segment 180, and two of these fingers 28011 and 280g are shown inFig. 12. Each finger 280 is carried by a rocker 281 pivoted on a shaft282 carried by brackets 283 which are in turn secured to a plate 284extending across the device below the segments 180 between the sideframes 84 and 85.

A separate solenoid 285 is mounted on the under side of plate 284 inassociation and is adapted when energized to shift the finger from itsretracted position shown in Fig. 10 to an advanced position shown inFig. 11. A bell crank 286 is pivoted above each solenoid 285 on abracket 287 mounted on the plate 284, and it normally occupies theposition shown in Fig. 10. When the associated solenoid is energized,the bell crank is rotated in clockwise direction, and the projecting pin289 carried by the lower end thereof pushes the rocker 281 in clockwisedirection to advance the finger 280.

A switch 290 is associated with each solenoid 285. The normal positionof this switch is shown in Fig. '10. When the solenoid is energized, thelower part of the rocker 281 shifts the switch arm 292 as shown in Fig.11, and this completes a holding circuit through switch 290 for thesolenoid as described hereafter in connection with the wiring diagram.This stop mechanism is duplicated for each type wheel, as indicated bythe corresponding solenoids 285a and 285k in the wiring diagram (Fig.26b).

The operation of a typical stop finger 280 is illustrated in Fig. 11 onthe assumption that the associated type wheel is desired to print thedigit 4, and Fig. 11 shows the successive teeth 200 on segment 180correspondingly identified as 0, l, 2, 3, 4, The operation of the partsis as already described up to the point at which the shaft 175 begins torotate in clockwise direction and 8 thus to effect movement of theprimary segment 180 under the biasing force of the spring 195. To obtainthe digit 4, however, provision is made, as described hereinafter, forenergizing the solenoid 285 at the precise instant when the spacebetween the #3 and #4 teeth 200 is opposite the finger 280. Energizingof the solenoid causes finger 280 to snap into this space so that itengages the #4 tooth as the segment continues to move, thus preventingfurther movement of the segment during the remainder of thecounterclockwise movement of the bales 185. It will also be noted inFigs. 10 and 11 that the lowermost ten of the teeth 200 are formed Withrelatively flat edges 295 on their undersides for engagement with thefinger 280 in accurately located position with respect to the otherparts, and particularly with respect to the associated secondary segment181.

The segment 180 will remain in its stopped position shown in 'Fig. 11until after the clutch pinion 255 has been re-engaged therewith and withthe secondary segment 181, after which the solenoid 285 will bedeenergized to disengage the stop finger 280 from the segment. Thenduring the clockwise movement of the bar 186 with bales 185, when thebar engages the spoke 187 on the primary segment, it will move bothsegments through the arcuate distance established by the previouslystopped position of the primary segment. This arcuate distance ispredetermined to produce corresponding rotation of the correspondingtype wheel through the associated gearing to set the type wheel in theproper position to print the digit 4. The same procedure will obtain foreach other digit from 0 to 9, the only difference in each case being theextent of preliminary arcuate movement of the segment 180, and it willthus be seen that each primary segment, or pair of primary and secondarysegments, acts as an indexing member for its associated type wheel.

Provision is made for selectively operating each of the solenoids 285 atthe proper instant during movement of its associated primary segment 180to index each segment individually in accordance with the proper settingof its associated type wheel. Referring first to Fig. 5, a scanner inthe form of a wiper arm 300 is secured on one end of the cam shaft 175for rotation therewith with respect to a series of stations defined by aplurality of contacts 301 mounted by means of a terminal strip 302 onthe side frame plate 84. A brush type contact 303 engages the hub of ascanner 300 to connect the scanner into the control circuits asillustrated in detail in the wiring diagram.

There are ten contacts 301, which establish a series of controlpositions from 0 to 9 as indicated in Fig. 26b. Each of these contactsis in turn connected with a corresponding contact in each of a pluralityof selector units in the computer 35, which are represented in thewiring diagram as a plurality of rotary stepping switches each having awiper contact 305 which is set in accordance with the operation of thescale 30 and the computer 35 as described in detail in my above notedapplication Serial No. 436,218. More specifically, the four decks ofswitch contacts designated as S, T, U and V in Fig. 26b represent oneadditional deck in each of the correspondingly designated steppingswitches in application Serial No. 436,218 and indicate tens of dollars,dollars, dimes and cents respectively. Similarly, the four decks ofswitch contacts designated W, X, Y and Z represent one additional deckin each of the correspondingly desig nated stepping switches inapplication Serial No. 436,218 and indicate tens of pounds, pounds,tenths of pounds and hundredths of pounds respectively.

To complete this portion of the description, reference is made to thepreceding description in connection with Figs. 8-11 and the operation ofthe parts to set the type wheel to print the digit "4. During operationof the computer 35 as described in application Serial No. 436,218, thewiper 305 for the V switch deck is set on its #4.contact, which isconnected to the #4 contact 301 for the scanner 300. The circuitarrangements are such, as described hereinaftenthat when scanner 300engages its #4 contact during counterclockwise rotation of the cam shaftas viewed in Fig. 5, an energizing circuit will be completed for thesolenoid 285a. Since the movement of the associated primary segment18011 is the, same initially as for scanner 3 00, this will causeenengizing of solenoid 285a at the precise instant when the spacebetween the #3 and #4 teeth 280 on the segment 180a is opposite thefinger 280a. This finger will thereforebe caused to snap into this spacebetween the teeth and thereby to index the primary segment for propersubsequent setting of its associated type wheel as described above inconnection with Figs. 5l1.

The general arrangement of the mechanism for print ing each successiveticket is illustrated in Fig. 15 and is disclosed in detail in my abovenoted application Serial No. 502,849 and Robertson Patents No. 1,816,263and No. 2,056,486. The successive tickets 45 are cut from an elongatedstrip 55 which is fed from a supply roll 325 through an elongated chute330 having slots 331 and 332 in the upper and lower Walls thereofthrough whichthe strip is engaged for feeding by a rubber pressure roll333 in cooperation with a driven cylinder 334 operatedintermittently bythe main drive which is indicated diagrammatically at 335 and which may,for example, be of the construction shown in Robertson Patent No.2,056,486. The cylinder 334 includes raised or roughened feedrail-portions 336 which establish the forwardfeedingmovement of thestrip 55 during each cycle of the apparatus, and the. cylinder 334 isalso shown as having incorporated therein an adjustable means 337, suchas a type wheel or electro, which may be employed to print some of thedesired data on each ticket 45, such particularly as the, grade of thecommodity and/or other identifying data of the type shown adjacent thebottom. margin of the ticket in Fig. 2. A detailed disclosure ofsuitable such printing mechanism is found in Robertson Patent No.1,816,263, and its cooperating inking roller is shown at 338.

From the feeding chute 330, the ticket strip 55passes to the knife chute340 which is carried by a knife 341 pivotally mounted at 342 forcooperative movement inward and away from a stationary cut-off bar 344to shear successive tickets from the strip. Beyond the knife chute 340is a further guide chute 345 which is slotted at 346 to provide aprinting station receiving the series of type Wheels already describedin detail in connection with Fig. 7. These type wheels cooperatewith animpression hammer 60, the printing ribbon for the impression hammerbeing indicated fragmentarily at 350.

Movement of the printed ticket beyond the printing stationis in thecontrol of apair of ejector wheels 355 operating in the slots 346 in thechute 34 5 beyond the printing station. Fig. 15 also shows a key 360located beyond the ejector wheels 355 for printing on each ticket thecommodity designation, shown as BEEF in Fig. 2. The commodity key 360prints through a slot 361 in the under side of chute 345 as describedabove in detail in the above identified Goodbar et al. application. Inaddition, provision is made for preventing operation of the apparatus inthe event of improper positioning of the commodity key, as described indetail hereinafter in connection with Figs..17-25 and the wiringdiagram.

Provision is made for a visual indication that the tape supply from theroll 325 is approaching exhaustion. Referring particularly to Fig. 16,the supply roll 325 includes a core 367 rotataby supported on a stud 369mounted on the side plate 51 of the printer frame. The periphery of thesupply roll 325 is yieldingly engagedby a sensing roller 370 rotatablymounted on a stud 372 in the outer end of an arm 373 secured to a bellcrank 375 which is in turn rotatably mounted by a stud 376 on a bracket377 secured to the plate 51. A spring 378 10 is. connected between onearm of hell crank 375 and a fixed part of the frame to bias. thebellcrank in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 16 inorder tomaintain the roller 370 in contact with the surface of the supply roll.

The other arm of the bell crank 375 is. pivotally connected by a link379.to one end of a lever 380 free on a stud 381 mounted on the sideplate 51. The other arm of lever 380 carries a stud 382 which coactswith a control surface383 on a control arm 384 fixed to a companionlever 386 pivoted on a stud 387 mounted in the side plate 52. Anextension of the control surface 383 is formed by a portion of a pawl 388 freely mounted on a stud in the arm 384, and a spring 389 biases thepawl in counterclockwise direction to maintain the pawl normally incontact with a stop stud 390 in the arm 384.

in the operation of the printing mechanism, as the ticket strip is usedup and the diameter: of the supply roll 325 decreases, the spring 378gradually moves the arm 373 and the bell crank 375 counterclockwise,which in turn moves the lever 380 in clockwise direction. This movementof lever 380 causes the stud 382 to move outwardly along the controlsurface 383 and finally onto the extension of this surface formed bypawl 388. When the supply on roll 325 is practically exhausted, the stud383 rides over a sharp shoulder 391 on the end of pawl 388, thusreleasing arm 384 and lever 386 to the action of a spring 392, whichimmediately rocks these parts in clockwise direction. This movementcontinues until an extension 393 on arm 384 engages a switch arm 394 andmoves this switch arm to a position completing. an energizing circuitfor a signal light 395 (Fig. 4) as illustrated in the wiring diagram ofFig. 261;, The signal light 395 is incorporated in a signal light panel396 on the front of the unit 40 in Figs. 1- and 4, and lighting of thislight 395 immediately notifies the operator of the necessity forinserting a new supply roll of ticket strip material.

The commodity key 360 and its operating mechanism are shown in detail inFigs. 1720. It includes a fiat plate portion 400 having at one end aknurled finger portion 401 for use in removing and inserting the keythrough the slot 402 in the side cover 56 in Fig. l, and the key fitsbetween two guides 43 mounted on opposite sides of a printing block 404which is in turn supported underneath the chute 345 by a bracket 405mounted on the side plate 51. The key portion'400 carries a porousrubber stamp unit 406 which is preferably cemented on the face gfwthekey and may also be provided with retaining clips The printing block 404is mounted for reciprocating printing movement on a pair of guide pins410 carried by the bracket 405. This movement ofthe printing block isinitiated by a cam 410 which is on the same cam shaft 411 as the camwhich operates the knife 341 (Fig. 15) as described in RobertsonPatent'No. 2,056,486. The cam 410 engages one arm'of bell crank 412 freeon a pivot stud 413, and the other arm of bell crank 412 is pivoted to alink 414 having its other end similarly pivoted to one arm of a bellcrank 415 pivoted at 416 on the bracket 405. The other arm of hell crank415 is slotted and engages a stud 417 projecting from the printing block404. A spring 4 18 normally biases the link 414 in the direction tocause bell crank 415 to hold the printing block in its retractedposition. When the cam 410 operates bell crank 412, this pulls link 414against spring 418 and causes clockwise movementof bell crank 415, whichin turn causes the printing block 404 to move upwardly and thereby toexecute a printing stroke on the under side of the ticket 45 againsttheupper side of the chute 345. This mechanism and operating cycle aredescribed in detail in the above noted Goodbar et al. patent.

Provision is made for preventing operation of the apparatus in the eventof improper positioning of. the com- 1 1 modity key 360. A finger 420 issecured to a shaft 421 pivoted in ears 422 and 423 mounted on the uppersurface of the chute 345. The depending end of finger 420 is adapted toengage a shoulder 424 near the outer end of the commodity key plate 400to lock the key in position on the printing block 404. The opposite endof the shaft 423 carries an arm 425 on which there is a stud 426 adaptedto abut the upwardly extending portion of the ear 423 to establish astopped position for the finger 420 in locking relation with thecommodity key.

The movements of the locking finger 428 for the commodity key aredirectly related with the operating control of the apparatus in suchmanner as to prevent the appara tus from operating if the commodity keyis not in proper position. The free end of the arm 425 is slotted toreceive a stud 436 carried by a bell crank 437 free on a fixed stud 438.The arm 439 of bell crank 437 is slotted to engage a stud 440 in a crank441 secured on one end of a short shaft 442 journaled in the frame plate85, and the other arm 444 of the bell crank carries a stud 445 whichengages a slot in a lever 446 pivoted on a fixed stud 447 carried by theframe plate 51. The lever 446 carries a stud 448 which engages a slot449 in a lever 450 mounted on the stud 447. This lever 450 projects outof the front of the unuit as shown in Fig. 1 for manual actuation whenit is desired to change the commodity key. Springs 451 and 452 urge thebell cranks 444 and 437 clockwise and counterclockwise respectively, tocause the stud 436 in cooperation with arm 425 to maintain the stop stud426 normally in engagement with the ear 423.

The lever 450 includes a rearward extension having two locating notches454 therein which correspond to the Oif and On positions of the lever.These notches coact with a pawl 455 pivoted on a fixed stud 456 in theframe plate 51. A spring 457 urges pawl 455 into engagement with one orthe other of notches 454 to retain lever 450 yieldably in either of itstwo positions.

Figs. 22 and 23 show the lever 458' in its On position and the lever 446in such position that the finger 42th is in its locking position withrespect to the commodity key. When it is desired to remove this key forreplacement, the lever 450 is moved upwardly to its Oif position, whichcauses the lower end of slot 449 to raise the stud 448 and thus to rocklever 446 (Fig. 22) in clockwise direc' tion, and this movement actsthrough hell crank 444 and crank 441 to rock the arm 439 and bell crank437 in clockwise direction against spring 452. Clockwise rotation of thebell crank 437 in turn operates through stud 436 to rock the arm 425together with the shaft 423 and finger 420, thus moving the end offinger 420 out of the path of the shoulder 424 on key 360 to release thekey for replacement by another key to print a diiferent commoditydesignation on the successive tickets or labels.

Special provision is made for preventing operation of the apparatus inthe event that the commodity key is not properly locked in position.Referring initially to Fig. 22, the lever 446 includes an extension arm460 carrying a stud 461 which is adapted to be positioned in the path ofmovement of the lever 165 in the direction to start operation of theapparatus, namely in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 22, and incounterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 8 and 21. The normalpositions of these parts for operation of the printer are as shown inFig. 22, with the stud 461 out of the path of lever 165. When the lever450 is moved to its Off position to release the commodity key forremoval, the resulting movement of lever 446 swings the stud 461 intoblocking relation with lever 165. Conversely, when the lever 165 ismoved as already described to start the motor, the ear 462 on its upperend moves into the path of the stud 461 to block movement of levers 446and 450 to their Off position during the printing cycle.

The above described movement of the lever 450 to release the commoditykey for removal also sets up a condition preventing subsequent operationof the printer un- 12 r less adjustment of the price-per-pound mechanismis made following change of the commodity key. Referring to Figs. 24 and25, a lever 470 is freely mounted on the shaft 442 and carries a stud471 adapted to engage the backs of the pawls 135. A spring 472 normallyurges the lever 474 in the direction to hold the pawls in engagementwith the associated gears, thus supplementing the biasing actions of thesprings 137. The lower end of the lever 470 is slotted to engage a stud474 carried by a pawl 475 free on a stud 476 mounted in the frame plate84.

Thus whenever any one of the price control knobs 41- 43 is rotated, therotation of its associated intermediate gears 93, 11.0 or 129 will causecorresponding rocking movement of its associated pawl 135. This movementof any one of the pawls causes corresponding rocking movement of thelever 470, first against and then under the biasing force of its spring472. The rocking movement of lever 470 in turn causes correspondingrocking movement of the pawl 475, and this action of pawl 475 isemployed to prevent actuation of the printer motor unless all of thepawls 135 are properly indexed, as now described.

Referring to Fig. 21, a slide plate 480 is slotted at 481 for slidingmovement on a pair of studs 482 secured in the frame plate 84. The lever165, which is rocked to start the printer motor as already described, isconnected with the slide 480 by a link 483 so that the movements of thislever are limited by contact between the opposite ends of the slots 481and their associated studs 482. The slide 480 also carries .a stud 485in one corner thereof, and when the pawl 475 is rocked from its normalposition, its lower end lies directly in the path of stud 485 with slide480, thus blocking movement of the slide, and hence starting of theprinter motor, if the pawl 475 is in its moved position as the result offailure of one of the pawls 135 to be indexed with its associated gear.The same parts also cooperate to lock the price selecting mechanismafter the printing cycle has started, since in the resulting movedposition of the slide 480, the stud 485 will be located in the path ofrocking movement of pawl 475 and will thus act as a mechanical lockagainst movement of lever 470 and any of the price selectors.

The above movements of the lever 470 are also utilized in conjunctionwith the locking and unlocking of the apparatus following change of thecommodity key. When the lever 450 is moved as described to Off position,the resulting rotation of the crank 441 causes a square stud 488 oncrank 441 to move beyond a shoulder 489 on a locking arm 490 free on astud 491 in the frame plate 84. The arm 490 is then immediately rockedby a spring 492 in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 24 tomove its shoulder 489 into the path of the stud 488 to obstruct returnmovement of crank 44]., and this in turn obstructs return movement ofthe other connected parts, including the lever 446 and the finger 420,under the biasing force of the springs 451 and 452.

Under these conditions, the slot 449 permits the lever 450 to be shiftedback to its On position without movement of its associated parts, andthe printer cannot therefore be operated following change of thecommodity key unless and until adjustment of at least one of the unitprice type wheels 61-63 has been made. As pointed out, the lever 470 isrocked back and forth each time one of these type wheels is moved, andwhen this occurs, the first movement of lever 470 is in clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 24. Such movement, therefore, causes a stud494 at the upper end of lever 470 to engage and push an extension 495 onarm 490, thus simultaneously rocking arm 490 out of the position ofengagement of its shoulder 489 with stud 488. This action in turn freesthe crank 441 and its connected parts to return to their normal or Onpositions under the action of the springs 451 and 452.

This return movement of the parts as just described is not possible ifthe commodity key is not properly inserted in place, since the returnmovement of the finger 420 to its locking position will be obstructed.In other words, with the finger 420 blocked against complete returnmovement, its interconnected parts including the lever 446 willsimilarly be held against return movement, which means that the stud'461 will be in its blocking position with respect to the lever 165.Proper insertion of the key moves the shoulder 424 thereon beyond thefinger 420, and then all the parts are free to return as described totheir On positions.

Provision is also made for energizing an indicator signal light 500(Fig. 1) to notify the operator either when the commodity key is notproperly located in position or when the commodity key has been changedwithout corresponding change of the price per pound setting. Referringto Fig. 22, a switch 501 is mounted in fixed position in the frame andis normally open with respect to the light 500 in the position shown inFig. 26a. An arm 502 for operating switch 501 is pivoted at 503 andextends into the path of a bracket arm 505 on the lever 546 in suchmanner that whenever lever 446 is in its blocking position with respectto lever 165, switch 501 will be shifted into the position forenergizing light 500.

In addition, the arm 502 extends into the path of the stud 471 on lever470, and this arrangement causes the light 500 to be lighted wheneverone of the priceper-pound type wheels is not properly indexed, since theresulting movement of its associated pawl 135 will move lever 470 andstud 471 sufliciently to operate arm 502 with respect to switch 501.

Sequence of operation The sequential operation of the entire apparatusis illustrated by the wiring diagram provided by Figs. 26a and 26b.Certain of the parts therein have already been previously identified,and in addition, certain of the units shown in the wiring diagramactually form parts of the computer 35 as described in detail in myabove application Serial No. 43 6,218. It will also be noted that in theinterests of simplification, six of the eight solenoids 285 and theassociated connections have been omitted from Fig. 26b, as indicated at510.

Operation of the printing apparatus is initiated by means of theten-level rotary sequence selector switch indicated generally at 515,which represents the unit shown in Fig. 17 of my application Serial No.436,218 and which has 19 operating positions. Except as describedhereinafter, the connections to the switch 515 are as described in mysaid application. In addition, during the operation of the computer asdescribed above, the eight rotary stepping switches SZ are operated toset their respective wipers 305 on the proper contacts in accordancewith the weight and value of the weighed material, with the result thateach of the solenoids 285 is connected with one or another of thecontacts 301 which define the series of positions to be traversed by thescanner 300.

The above operations are completed by the computer during progress ofthe switch 515 from column to column therein. When switch 515 reachesits column 2, it completes an energizing circuit for a relay 520' bymeans of line 521 and the plus terminal 522 through a resistor 523, andthe relay 520 locks itself in through its contacts 524, the line 525 andthe lower pair of contacts of switch 501. The relay 520 corresponds tothe relay identified as 270 in my above application Serial No. 436,218,and the line 526 corresponds to the line identified as 274 inapplication Serial No. 436,218. When the switch 515 reaches its column18, the ground then applied on line 527 is delivered through the closedcontacts 528 of relay 520 to a line 529 to complete an energizingcircuit to a relay 530, and this relay also locks itself in through itscontacts 531 and the line 532 to the switch indicated generally at 535,this switch having a control arm 536 operated by a cam 537 on the maincam shaft 155.

The relay 530 is the control relay for starting operation of theprinter. When it energizes, its contacts 540 connect the main A.C. powerline L-1 with a line 541 which leads through the back contacts 542 ofrelay 543 to a line 544 which completes an energizing circuit for thesolenoid 160 to the other power line L-2. As soon as solenoid 160 isenergized, it operates as described in connection with Fig. 8 to closemotor switch 171, and this action completes the starting circuit formotor and also completes an energizing circuit for the relay 543. Thelatter action breaks the circuit through contacts 542 to solenoid andcauses the latter to open, but by this time, the switch 171 is under thecontrol of the printing mechanism and is held closed until the printingcycle is completed, as described in Robertson Patent No. 2,056,- 486.

Since relays 530 and 543 are now operated, the series of solenoids 285have operating power available through line 545, which is a continuationof line L2, and a line 546 which is connected with line 541 by theclosed contacts 547 of relay 543, this line 54-1 having previously beenconnected with line L-1 by the closed contacts 540 of relay 530.Incorporated in the wiring is a half-wave DC. power supply consisting ofa condenser 550, a rectifier or diode 551, and a resistor 552 connectedas shown by a line 553 between the power lines L-l and L-2. In addition,associated with each solenoid 285 is a resistor 554 and a condenser 555,the condensers 555 being connected by a line 556 to the line 553.

This power supply provides an initially high D.-C. voltage for eachsolenoid 285 to efiect instant operation thereof without varying thevoltage on the others of this series of solenoids. Thus each solenoid285 is initially energized by the discharging of its associatedcondenser 555, which insures rapid operation of each of these solenoids.

The system includes an additional relay 560 which 0perates as describedhereinafter to prevent improper operation of the printer by sensingnon-operation of any of the solenoids 285. The relay 560 is energizedfrom the line 546 by parallel circuits through the closed back contactsof each of the switches 290, which are operated by the solenoids 285,and the diode 561 as shown. Accordingly relay 560 closes as soon asrelay 543 is closed.

The above operation takes place during the first 30 of rotation of camshaft 155 as described above and before any movement of shaft 175occurs, so that power is thus made available for operation of thesolenoids 285 before the motor 150 begins to drive the rock shaft 175and the scanner 300 through their complete cycles as described above.When this power just becomes available, the scanner 300 is in its homeposition wherein it is in engagement with its 0' contact. Since closingof relay 530 has caused the scanner tobe connected with power line L-1through the contacts 540 and 547 and the lines 546 and 564, then if anyof the wipers 305 are connected with their associated 0 contacts, anenergizing circuit will be completed to their associated solenoids 285,with resulting operation of the corresponding stop fingers 280.

As the scanner 300 proceeds across its series of contacts, the sameoperation is repeated whenever one of the contacts 301 is connected withone of the wiper arms 305. Thus after the scanner 300 reaches its 9contact, all the solenoids 285 should be energized. When each solenoid285 energizes, it opens the back contacts of its associated switch 290and closes its own holding circuit through the other contacts of itsswitch 290. Therefore, when all the solenoids 285 have been energized,then the energizing circuit for relay 560 will be broken and that relaywill open.

After switch 515 arrived at its column 18 to begin the printing cycle,it moved to its position 19 and rei5 7 mained there during the initialrotational movement of the scanner 300. After scanner 300 has reachedits 9 contact and before it begins to rotate in the opposite direction,the cam 537 reaches a position wherein the follower on switch arm 536drops off the high part of the cam, thus breaking the circuit throughthe top contacts of switch 535 and closing the bottom contacts of thisswitch.

This action breaks the holding circuit for relay 530 and allows thisrelay to deenergize, which in turn removes the power from line 541 bybreaking the contacts 547 and thus makes it impossible for any solenoid285 to be energized during the return movement of scanner 300. Also,closing of the bottom contacts of switch 535 places a ground on line 570to the switch 515, the connection running by way of line 571 and thenormally closed contact 572 of a relay 573, and switch 515 accordinglymoves from its position 19 to its position 1 in readiness for anothercomputation when properly so instructed by the action of the scale.

During the scanning action of scanner 300 in its first rotationalmovement, the bails 185 are driving the segments 180 as described above,and the segments are individually indexed by energization of theirassociated solenoids 235. During the return rotation of scanner 300 withthe bails 182, the several type wheels 140-143 and 145-443 are set asalready described in readiness for the actual printing operation whichis eifected by actuation of the impression hammer 60 as described inRobert son Patent 2,056,486. When the printing cycle has been completed,the scanner 300 has returned to its posi tion, the cam 537 has returnedto its position indicated in Fig. 26b wherein the upper contacts ofswitch 535 are closed, and the switch 171 is opened to deenergize relay543 and to shut oif the motor 150.

If it should happen during operation of scanner 300 that any one of therelays 205 fails to energize, then the back contacts of its associatedswitch 290 will fail to open, and relay 560 will remain energized. Thenwhen relay 530 opens through the action of switch 535, relay 560 willremain closed through its contacts 575, the contacts 576 of relay 530,and the lines 577 and 578 which are connected through one side of themanual reset switch 580. In addition, the contacts 581 of relay 560 willbe open to break the connection between the lines 582 and 583, which arethe lines effective to start the next operation of the computer andtogether constitute the line identified as 251 in application Serial No.43 6,218. At the same time, when the relay 543 is deenergized, power issupplied to light the error or Reset light 585, this circuit runningthrough the back contacts 586 of relay '43, the contacts 587 of relay560, the lines 588, 590, 591 and 592, the contacts 593 of relay 560 andthe back contacts 594 to relay 543.

Further operation can continue from this point only upon operation ofthe manual reset switch 580, which breaks the circuit between lines 577and 578 to allow relay 560 to de-energize and thus completes theconnection between lines 582 and 533 through the contacts 581 of relay560. At the same time, the closing of the bottom contacts of resetswitch 580 completes a circuit from ground through a line 595 to line571 for a purpose described hereinafter. The reset switch button 600 isshown as incorporated in a switch panel 601 on the front of the unit 40as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The reset switch 580 must also be operated if an error has occurred inthe cycle of the computer 35, as described in my above applicationSerial No. 436,218, such as a temporary failure of the source of poweror an attempt to effect a complete cycle of operation when the scale isin a position below zero or a position representing an overload. If suchan error has occurred, the switch 515 will proceed to its column 18, butthe relay 520 will in the meantime have been tie-energized as describedin application Serial No. 436,218, so that its contacts 528 will be openand no power can reach the control relay 530 for starting operation ofthe printer. Accordingly, after the switch 515 reaches its column 19, itwill remain there until the reset switch 580 is manually operated toprovide a ground through the line 595 to line 571. During such errorperiod, the light 585 will be lighted by a circuit running from the backcontacts 605 of relay 520, and the lines 591 and 590 to a line 606 backto a contact in'the third row of columns 18 and 19 of switch 515.

Provision is also made for notifying the operator and preventing furtheroperation of the apparatus whenever the commodity key is changed withoutchange of the price or whenever the price-per-pound selectors are notproperly indexed or are moved after computation has been begun andbefore the printer operates. Thus as previously described, the switch501 is mechanically operated whenever the commodity key is changed orthe price-per-pound selectors are not properly indexed. In either case,the switch 501 will be shifted from the position shown in Fig. 26a toclose its upper contacts, thus breaking the holding circuit for relay520 through its contacts 524 and similarly breaking the energizingcircuit through the relay contacts 528 to the printer control relay 530.At the same time, the switch 501 will complete an energizing circuitthrough its upper contacts for both of the signal lights 500 and 585,the circuit for the light 500 running through line 591 and the nowclosed back contacts 605 of relay 520, and the circuit for the light 585running through the line 606 to the switch 515 as described.

If the price-per-pound indicators are not properly indeXed at the startof the cycle, the switch 501 will have been shifted to its upperposition in Fig. 26a, and the same circuit conditions will exist asdescribed in the preceding paragraph. In other words, the holdingcircuit for the relay 520 will be broken at the switch 501, the startingpower line 529 to the printer control relay 530 will be broken, and bothof the signal lights 500 and 585 will light. Printing will accordinglynot be possible, and recycling of the computer must be effected asdescribed by actuation of the reset switch 580. The light 585 willindicate the existence of an error, while lighting of the light 500 willidentify the error as requiring a change of price setting either becauseof improper indexing of the price selectors or of failure to change theprice after change of the commodity key.

If a price change is attempted after computation has begun and beforethe printer begins to operate, operation of switch 501 will be onlytemporary, causing deenergizing of relay 520 as described but notcontinuously lighting the light 500. Under these conditions, the light585 will be lighted in the same manner as in the event of an error inthe operation of the computer as already described, owing to the factthat the computation has been based on more than one unit price. It isnot possible to change the price setting after the printing cycle hasbegun, because during this phase of the operation, the price-per-poundselectors are mechanically locked against movement, by the cooperativeaction of the pawl 475 and stud 485 previously described in connectionwith Fig. 24.

In normal operation, the cycle of the apparatus as described above willterminate upon return of switch 515 to its home position and will not berepeated. This action is assured by the relay 610, which corresponds tothe relay designated 260 in application Serial No. 436,218. Thus whenthe switch 515 moves to its number 2 position, its wiper 2 grounds thepositive end of the operating coil of relay 610 through connection 611,the voltage being dissipated through the resistor 609 to cause relay 610to open.

Opening of the relay 610 breaks the self-locking connection effectedbetween its contacts 612 so that it will not again be closed until wire613 is grounded in response to removal of weight from the platter of thescale. Wire 613 leads to a terminal N which in turn connects to a switchforming part of the scale and effective to close only when the weight isremoved from the scale-such as the No Load relay N as disclosed in myabove application Serial No. 376,136. Thus the operation of the computeris initiated upon completion of a weighing operation by grounding of thewire 614, through a switch mechanism effective when the scale hasreached its balanced position with -a weight on the platter, a suitablesuch mechanism for accomplishing this result forming a part of thefollow-up means of the scale described in my said application Serial No.376,136, namely the control relay C of said application as indicated atC in Fig. 26a. It is this temporary grounding of line 614 which causesswitch 515 to move from its position 1 to position 2 as described inapplication Serial No. 436,218, but even though wire 614 is groundedupon completion of the cycle, wire 583 will not be grounded owing to thecontacts 615 of relay 610 being open, and the switch 515 will thereforenot make an improper repeat operation.

The opening of relay 610 as described also closes its back contacts 615,which ground the terminal of the indicator light 37 on the scale, andthe lighting of this light is a signal to the scale operator that theload has now been weighed and may be removed and replaced by a new loadon the platter. This removal of the load at this point will not affectthe further completion of the computing and printing operations, becausethe motor in the follow-up means of the scale remains deenergized untilthe switch 515 reaches its position as described in detail inapplication Serial No. 436,218. Figs. 1 and 26:: also show a push-buttonswitch 620, which corresponds to the switch designated as 280 inapplication Serial No. 436,218, and which may be used to initiate manualoperation of the complete cycle for test purposes or when the load istoo light to actuate the No Load relay. For example, the switch 620 willcause the apparatus to print a ticket showing zero values for weight andprice when there is no load on the platter.

It will also now be apparent that the system of the invention can carryon different operations simultaneously on as many as three separateloads, with different portions of the system sharing the same time andthereby contributing to speed of operation without sacrificing accuracy.Thus as soon as the indicator light 37 is energized as described, thescale operator is informed that the first load can be replaced on theplatter 31 by a second load without affecting the reading of the weihgtof the first load. The weighing mechanism is free to be deflected in theproper direction depending upon whether the second load is heavier orlighter than the first while the read-out of the first weight is beingcompleted and transmitted to the computer. The read-out is completedwhen the switch 515 reaches its 10 position as described in applicationSerial No. 436,218, and at this point the follow-up means is free to bereactuated by the weighing mechanism. Thereafter, when the computingoperation has been completed and the printing operation has proceeded tothe point at which the relay 530 is opened, the computer will be causedby return to its position 1 to receive the read-out for the second loadsimultaneously with the remainder of the printing cycle for the firstload, and finally the read-out means will then be released forreactuation by movement of the weighing mechanism caused by a third loadduring completion of the computing and printing operations on the firstand second loads.

It will also be apparent that in the event of improper operation of theprinter as described which results in failure to energize all of thesolenoids 285, the corresponding failure of relay 560 to open willprevent return of the computer to its home position and will therebystop uncorrected further operation of the entire system.

Provision is also made for repeat printing of tickets of the sameweight, price and price per pound by repeat operation of the printingmechanism without repeating the computing operation. The repeat switch625 is normally in the position shown in Fig. 26a. When this switch isclosed, the initial operation of the apparatus is the same as, alreadydescribed until the switch 515 reaches its position 19, at which pointrelay 573 is energized through the line 626 and the resistor 627. Thisopens the normally closed contacts 572 of relay 573 and thus breaks theconnection between the lines 570 and 571 so that switch 515 is unable tomove from its position 19. i

In these circumstances, when the printer has completed one operation upto the point at which the relay 543 is open, relay 560 will bedeenergized, unless an error has occurred in the printer. Further, sinceswitch 515 is at its position 19, an additional relay 630 is energizedthrough switch 625 and the line 631 through the back contacts 632 ofrelay 560 and the back contacts 594 of relay 543. Energization of relay630 closes its contacts 633 to provide a ground on the line 529 tore-cycle the printer.

This repeat operation will then continue so long as switch 625 is closedunless the weight is changed on the scale or unless the price per poundis changed during that portion of the printing cycle when it ismechanically possible to do so. If the weight on the scale is changedduring a repeat operation, the relay 610 will operate, thus placing aground on the line 634 through its contacts 635 and shunting the relay573 by means of the resistor 627 so that the relay 573 is deenergized.The computer switch 515 can then return to its home position at the endof the printing cycle and thereafter re-compute for the changed weight.

If during repeat printing, the price per pound is changed as notedabove, the relay 520- will open, thus breaking the starting line 529 tothe printer. Further operation will require closing of the reset switch580 to cause recycling of switch 515 by providing a ground on lines 595and 571 through a line 640 and the back contacts 641 of relay 520 to theline 570, thereby advancing switch 515 to its home position to recyclethe computer and reset relay 520. After this resetting, the repeat cyclecontinues until fur ther interruption.

The essential relationships of the system of the invention areillustrated in the block diagram of Fig. 27. As shown, the weighingmechanism of the scale incorporates a weight read-out which supplies theweight data in digital form as one input factor for the computer, andthe weight read-out also supplies the weight data in digital form to thecorresponding printer input to effect setting of the printing wheels asdescribed above. The connections for supplying the weight input datafrom the weighing mechanism to the printer are shown in the wiringdiagram as including the stepping switches W, X, Y and Z in thecomputer, but this is primarily for convenience and is not an essentialarrangement as distinguished from connections independent from thecomputer for the same purpose.

Fig. 28 illustrates mechanical details of the weight read-out mechanismas shown in Serial No. 436,218, including a fragment 700 of the mainlever which moves through a distance proportional to weight and isarranged to actuate an upper switch 701 or a lower switch 702. Theswitches 701 and 702 are both mounted on a bracket 705 and are connectedby lines 706 and 707 respectively to a drive motor 710 which is thuscaused to rotate selectively forward or backward depending upon whetherlever 700 actuates switch 701 or switch 702. The motor 710 drives a wormshaft 711 which rotates a worm gear 712 on a shaft or lead screw 713extending through a complementary nut 714 fixed to the bracket 705. Thisforms a follow-up system for moving the bracket 705 and the switches 701and 702 so that in response to a displacement of the lever, the motor710 will be energized in the proper direction and will continue inoperation for a sufiicient amount of travel to restore the switches 701and 702 to the illustrated neutral position with respect to the lever700, and at this time the motor 710 will come to rest. The lever 700having moved to a position corresponding to the weight, the motor shaft711 has thus turned through an angle directly corresponding to theweight on the scale. In order to transmit an indication of that angleand hence of the weight represented thereby, the shaft 711 is extendedas shown at 715 to drive a readout mechanism indicated diagrammaticallyat 729 which is in turn connected as indicated diagrammatically at 721with the computer 35.

Fig. 27 further emphasizes the provision in accordance with theinvention of the unit price selector as a part of the printer whichperforms a dual function. Thus the unit price selector is directlyconnected as described with the printing wheels in the printer whichprint the unit price on the ticket or other printed record. In addition,there are interconnections between the unit price selector and thecomputer which develop data in digital form incorporating the weight asone factor and the unit price as the other factor and then supply thisdigital data to the computer. More specifically, the computer suppliesselected digits of the weight factor to the unit price selector, andsince the latter is shown as incorporating a precomputed multiplicationtable, including the selector switch 77 as previously described, itproduces partial products incorporating the weight and unit pricefactors and supplies these partial products back to the computer. If theprecomputed multiplication table is incorporated in the computer, asshown in my above application Serial No. 436,218, then the partialproducts are also produced in the computer utilizing the unit pricefactor supplied there to by the unit price selector.

Fig. 27 illustrates that the computer, as previously described, programsthe multiplying operations of the unit price selector and effects thesummation thereof as an output representing value for delivery to thevalue input of the printer. Fig. 27 shows the arrangement in accordancewith the invention of the commodity identifying means as a part of theprinter as described in detail hereinabove, and finally Fig. 27illustrates the cooperative relationships of all these selectivecontrols with the computer and printer in issuing the desired printedrecord of the united price, weight, value and identity of the Weighedcommodity.

It will thus be seen that in accordance with the present invention, thescale installation shown in Fig. 1 will operate as a complete unit toweigh successive loads placed on the scale platter, to compute the priceof the weighed load in accordance with the preset unit price of thecommodity being weighed, and to print a ticket or label bearing theweight, value and unit price of the load together with the correctdesignations of the identity and grade of the load. The operation of thecomplete scale unit is comparatively rapid, requiring as little as 2 to3 seconds from the time the load is placed on the platter until theprinted ticket emerges from the printing mechanism. Furthermore, it isnot necessary for the operator to wait until the printed ticket has beenissued before continuing to the next load, since the printing operationcan be carried 011 while the scale and the computer are in the processof weighing and computing the value of the next load. As pointed out,the invention incorporates special provisions for making suchoverlapping operations possible without affecting the accuracy ofeither, and also for notifying the operator when the complete cycle ofoperations has reached the stage at which the weighed load can bereplaced by a new load.

It will accordingly be seen that the invention offers outstandingpractical advantages of speed, convenience and accuracy. For example, nomanual operations are required other than the loading and unloading ofthe platter. Furthermore, in conventional practice for handlingpre-packaged foods such as meats, the weight and computed value of eachload is transferred manually to the mechanism for printing the ticketsor label. Such procedure consumes a very much longer time than thecomplete cycle of operation of the ticket printing scale of the presentinvention, and obviously it also introduces a considerable possibilityof human error in transferring the operation of the computer to theprinter, a disadvantage which is completely eliminated by the presentinvention.

In addition to the above advantages, the present invention offersfurther specific features enhancing its practical value. For example, ifan error should be made in the printing mechanism, provision is made bythe invention both for preventing further operations until the error hasbeen corrected and also for immediately notifying the operator of boththe occurrence and the nature of the error so that the time forcorrection is correspondingly reduced. Similar provision is made fornotifying the operator of the necessity for changing the supply ofticket material in the printer as a further safe-guard against improperoperation of the apparatus. At the same time, it should be noted thatthe invention is not limited to use in conjunction with a scale, sincethe operation of the ticket printing mechanism of the invention isresponsive to the data supplied thereto by means of the plurality ofelectrical circuits which determine the instant of operation of each ofthe indexing members for the several indicator wheels, and theinformation which this data represents may take many desired forms.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferredembodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a system for weighing and producing a printed record of the weightand of the unit price and value of commodities of different types andunit prices, the combination of a weighing mechanism includingelectrical means for producing representation of the weight factor indigital form, a printer having inputs for the weight and unit pricefactors and for value, a unit price selector mechanism forming part ofsaid printer and including a plurality of elements each representingdifferent columns of unit price and movable to a series of positionscorresponding to different integer values in said columns, commodityidentifying means associated with said printer and adapted to be set torepresent different commodities, a computer having a digital weightinput and an output representing value in digital form, electricalconnections from said weighing mechanism for supplying said weightfactor digits to said computer and said printer weight inputs,electrical interconnections between said unit price selector mechanismand said computer for developing data in digital form incorporating theunit price factor and for introducing said digital data to saidcomputer, electrical connections from said computer output to saidprinter value input to transmit the computed value data thereto, switchmeans for sensing a change in the setting of said commodity identifyingmeans, switch means for sensing the setting of any one of said unitprice selector elements to a position other than an integer valueposition, switch means for sensing a change in the setting of said unitprice selector mechanism occurring during the course of operation ofsaid computer, means for causing said printer to carry out a printingcycle utilizing said data from said weighing mechanism and saidcomputer, and means connected with each of said sensing means responsiveto actuation of any one of said sensing means for preventing said cycleof said printer.

2. In a system for weighing and producing a printed record of the weightand of the unit price and value of commodities of different types andunit prices, the combination of a weighing mechanism includingelectrical means for producing a representation of the weight factor indigital form, a printer having inputs for the weight and unit pricefactors and for value, a unit price selector mechanism forming part ofsaid printer and adapted to be set to a series of different unit prices,a computer 2'1 having a digital weight input and an output representingvalue in digital form, electrical connections from said. weighingmechanism for supplying said weight factor digits to said computer andsaid printer weight inputs, electrical interconnections between saidunit price selector mechanism and said computer for developing data indigital form incorporating the unit price factor and for introducingsaid digital data to; said computer, electrical connections from saidcomputer output to -said printer value input to transmit the. computedvalue data thereto, means for causing said printer to carry out aprinting cycle utilizing said data from said weighing mechanism and saidcomputer, and electrical relay means responsive to a change in thesetting of, said unit, price selector mechanism occurring during thecourse of op eration of said computer for preventing said cycle of saidprinter.

3. In a system for weighing and producing a printed record of the weightand of the unit price and value of commodities of different types andunit prices, the combination of a weighing mechanism includingelectrical means for producing a representation of the weight factor indigital form, a printer having inputs for the weight and unit pricefactors and for value, a unit price selector mechanism forming part ofsaid printer and adapted to be set to a series of different unit prices,commodity identifying means also forming part of said printer andadapted to be set to represent different commodities, a computer havinga digital weight input and an output representing value in digital form,electrical connections from said weighing mechanism for supplying saidweight factor digits to said computer and said printer weight inputs,electrical interconnections between said unit price selector mechanismand said computer for developing data in digital form incorporating theunit price factor and for introducing said digital data to saidcomputer, electrical connections from said computer output to saidprinter value input to transmit the computed value data thereto, meansfor causing said printer to carry out a printing cycle utilizing saiddata from said weighing mechanism and said computer, and electricalrelay means responsive to a change in the setting ofsaid commodityidentifying means for preventing said cycle of said printer unless saidchange is accompanied by a change in the setting of said unit priceselector mechanism.

4. In a system for weighing and producing a printed record of the weightand of the unit price and value of commodities of different types andunit prices, the combination of a weighing mechanism includingelectrical means for producing a representation of the weight factor indigital form, a printer having inputs for the weight and unit pricefactors and for value, a unit price selector mechanism including aplurality of elements each representing different columns and movable toa series of positions corresponding to different integer values in theseveral columns, the setting of said elements representing a selectedunit price, a computer having a digital Weight input and an outputrepresenting value in digital form, electrical connections from saidweighing mechanism for supplying said weight factor digits to saidcomputer and said printer weight inputs, electrical interconnectionsbetween said unit price selector mechanism and said computer fordeveloping data in digital form incorporating the unit price factor andfor introducing said digital data to said computer, electricalconnections from said computer output to said printer value input totransmit the computed value data thereto, means for causing said printerto carry out a printing cycle utilizing said data from said weighingmechanism and said computer, and electrical relay means responsive tothe setting of any of said elements to a position other than an integervalue position for preventing said cycle of said printer.

5. In a system for weighing and producing a printed record of the weightand of the unit price and value of commodities of different types andunit prices, the combination of a weighing mechanism includingelectrical means for producing a representation of the weight factor indigital form, a printer having inputs for the weight and unit pricefactors and for value, a unit price selector mechanism forming part ofsaid printer and including a plurality of elements each representingdifferent columns of unit price and movable to a series of positionscorresponding to different integer values in said columns, commodityidentifying means associated with said printer and adapted to. be set torepresent different commodities, a computer having a digital weightinput and an output representing value in digital form, electricalconnections from said weighing mechanism for supplying said weightfactor digits to said computer and said printer weight inputs,electrical interconnections between said unit price selector mechanismand said com puter for developing data in digital form incorporating theunit price factor and for introducing said digital data to saidcomputer, electrical connections from said computer output to, saidprinter value input to transmit the computed value data thereto, switchmeans for sensing a change in the setting of said commodity identifyingmeans, switch means for sensing the setting of any one of said unitprice selector elements to a position other than an integer valueposition, switch means for. sensing a change in the setting of said unitprice selector mechanism occurring during the course of operation ofsaid computer, signal means associated with all of said sensing means,and means connected with each of said sensing means responsive toactuation of any one of said sensing means for actuating said signalmeans.

6. In a system for weighing and producing a printed record of the weightand of the unit price and value of commodities of different types andunit prices, the combination of a weighing mechanism includingelectrical means for producing a representation of the weight factor indigital form, a printer having inputs for the weight and unit pricefactors and for value, a unit price selector mechanism forming part ofsaid printer and adapted to be set to a series of different unit prices,a computer having a digital weight input and an output representingvalue in digital form, electrical connections from said weighingmechanism for supplying said weight factor digits to said computer andsaid printer weight inputs, electrical interconnections between saidunit price selector mechanism and said computer for developing data indigital form incorporating the unit price factor and for introducingsaid digital data to said computer, electrical connections from saidcomputer output to said printer value input to transmit the computedvalue data thereto, a signal device, and electrical relay meansresponsive to a change in the setting of said unit price selectormechanism occurring during the course of operation of said computer foractuating said signal device.

7. In a system for weighing and producing a printed record of the weightand of the unit price and value of commodities of different types andunit prices, the combination of a weighing mechanism includingelectrical means for producing a representation of the weight factor indigital form, a printer having inputs for the weight and unit pricefactors and for value, a unit price selector mechanism forming part ofsaid printer and adapted to be set to a series of different unit prices,commodity identifying means also forming part of said printer andadapted to be set to represent different commodities, a computer havinga digital weight input and an output representing value in di ital form,electrical connections from said weighing mechanism for supplying saidWeight factor digits to said computer and said printer weight inputs,electrical interconnections between said unit price selector mechanismand said computer for developing data in digital form incorporating theunit price factor and for introducing said digital data to saidcomputer, electrical connections from said computer output to said

